Make France Great Again-Chapter 914 - 905: Teacher Selection

Empress Augusta questioned Jerome Bonaparte, then scrutinized Jerome Bonaparte as if interrogating a prisoner.

Feeling uncomfortable under Augusta’s gaze, Jerome Bonaparte quickly added, "The teacher I mentioned isn’t an actual teacher, but rather someone to take Friedrich to the countryside, to let him personally experience the rural atmosphere.

Only in this way can he, in future governance, learn to think more deeply.

France needs not an Emperor standing high above, but an Emperor with his feet on the ground.

We must let him understand that each policy concerns the lives of countless families..."

Jerome Bonaparte spoke eloquently to Empress Augusta, whose expression changed from initial resistance to gradual recognition.

As the honorary director of an orphanage, honorary president of the French Nursing Association, honorary director of Charitable Hospital... among other titles, Augusta similarly saw their tragic lives through constant interaction with the lower citizens, thus Empress Augusta was very willing to help them as much as she could.

The current Augusta compared to the Augusta who just married into France is like two different people!

"You’re right! Friedrich indeed should know these things!" Empress Augusta nodded in agreement with Jerome Bonaparte.

"If Friedrich doesn’t know even these basics, then I really find it hard to believe Friedrich could become an excellent Monarch!" Jerome Bonaparte calmly said to Augusta, "Only by allowing Friedrich and future generations to realize this can the Empire possibly continue into the second generation, third generation..."

"And even countless generations!" Empress Augusta also spoke to complete the statement Jerome Bonaparte didn’t finish.

Upon hearing this, Jerome Bonaparte showed a slightly awkward expression.

If he remembered correctly, the person who said those words seemed to have ended his dynasty with just his generation.

Huhai of the second generation used only three years to ruin the entire Great Qin, leaving it in chaos.

"Forget about the millennia-long dynasty!" Jerome Bonaparte quickly added a sentence, then revealed a self-mocking expression, "If the Imperial throne can last a hundred years, that would already be a good ending!"

From 1852 when Jerome Bonaparte ascended to Emperor, projecting a hundred years forward would be exactly eight years after World War II concluded.

Judging by the Parisians frequently taking to the streets in protest, if they could tolerate the House of Bonaparte for 100 years, it indicates the Bonaparte Clan’s subsequent two generations must have performed reasonably well.

Otherwise, the French people would have long proven through action who truly leads the anti-imperial vanguard.

Of course, this is merely Jerome Bonaparte’s ideal outcome.

Having served nearly five years as Emperor, Jerome Bonaparte felt as if he was walking a tightrope, where a slight misstep could lead to a fall.

Moreover, there remained a "major enemy" in the Kingdom of Prussia ahead.

As long as the Kingdom of Prussia remained proximate to France, Jerome Bonaparte would not relax his vigilance against this formidable foe.

And Augusta likewise understood that expecting the House of Bonaparte’s throne to pass down through millennia was merely wishful thinking.

From 1815 to 1851, within a mere thirty-six years, France had established two dynasties and one Republic.

Augusta never thought the Empire Jerome Bonaparte founded would continuously pass down; as long as the throne could smoothly transition to the next generation and be preserved in their hands.

Augusta would be quite satisfied with this; as for what followed, it would depend on the wisdom of future generations.

"You’re right too! As long as the throne can maintain for a hundred years, I feel that’s already quite good!" Empress Augusta concurred.

"Indeed!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded as well, then quickly refocused the widened topic, "We’re straying! Where did we leave off just now?"

After momentarily pondering, Empress Augusta replied to Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, you just mentioned each of Friedrich’s policies concerning the lives and properties of countless families..."

Jerome Bonaparte suddenly seemed enlightened, addressing Empress Augusta, "I recall now, it’s this!

...

This is why I say Friedrich’s teachers are farmers, are poor people roaming the streets, are factory workers..."

"Enough! As for abstract concepts of teachers, let’s leave them be!

Let’s discuss whom you wish to appoint as Friedrich’s actual teacher! We need to choose a teacher for him!" Empress Augusta gently pinched Friedrich Bonaparte’s round little face, speaking to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Concerning teachers..." Jerome Bonaparte was silent for a long time before speaking to Empress Augusta, "I recall you originally had Duke Broi serve as Friedrich’s teacher, what happened? Duke Broi isn’t willing to serve?"

"You remember wrongly, Duke Broi never agreed to this from the start! However, the noble he recommended to me is indeed a talent!

Though, he specializes in literature.

Therefore, we need to find other teachers for Friedrich in different disciplines!

"How many subjects are you planning for Friedrich to study?" Jerome Bonaparte asked Empress Augusta.

"It’s best if he can learn everything possible!" Empress Augusta blurted out, then added, "However, considering Friedrich doesn’t have that much time to learn everything, I plan for him to focus on languages (French and German), court etiquette, mathematics, and literature."

"Right! He should also study law!" Jerome Bonaparte reminded Empress Augusta.

"Law?" Empress Augusta chuckled, "The so-called law is merely a tool to restrict ordinary people!

We are not bound by the law in the first place, what’s the use in studying it!"

"Augusta, your perspective is incorrect! While it may seem that I am suppressing the law now, one day the law will rise again.

At that time, he might compel me to choose to respect the law." Jerome Bonaparte shook his head and spoke seriously to Empress Augusta.

Jerome Bonaparte then used the examples of Louis XIV and Louis XV to warn Empress Augusta not to underestimate the importance of the law, which led Augusta to choose to take the law of France seriously.

"Who do you plan to have teach Friedrich the constitution?" Empress Augusta asked Jerome Bonaparte.

"Actually, the Minister of Justice, Rue, would be quite suitable, but his workload is too heavy, so I plan to have the Minister of State take on the responsibility of teaching Friedrich the law!" Jerome Bonaparte smiled slightly as he responded to Empress Augusta.

"The Minister of State?" Empress Augusta recalled for a moment, then spoke to Jerome Bonaparte, "Are you talking about Guizot?"

Jerome Bonaparte shrugged and said to Empress Augusta, "Who else but him? Anyway, his powers as Minister of State are currently limited!

It’s just the right time for him to teach Friedrich."

Since Guizot became the Minister of State, his power greatly differed from that of his predecessor, Fuer.

Aside from the Ministry of Education, other departments rarely reported to Guizot.

This resulted in Guizot, though holding the title of Minister of State, working as if he were a deputy in the Ministry of Education.

"That works!" Empress Augusta also agreed with Jerome Bonaparte’s proposal and requested Jerome Bonaparte to expedite the matter.

"Rest assured!" Jerome Bonaparte patted his chest and promised Empress Augusta.

Subsequently, Jerome Bonaparte again discussed the selection of other teachers.

Soon, after a back-and-forth discussion, Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta determined the remaining teachers.

Once all teachers were confirmed, Jerome Bonaparte asked Empress Augusta again, "By the way! I heard from Bashirio that when Ambassador Farokh visited, you were the one who received him?"

"That’s right! Since you were not at the Tuileries Palace at the time, I met with him on your behalf!" Empress Augusta replied to Jerome Bonaparte.

"What did Farokh say?" Jerome Bonaparte inquired Empress Augusta again.

"Simply expressing hope that France would urge the British envoy to come as soon as possible. Didn’t Bashirio inform you?"

"He told me! However, I still thought it best to ask you directly!" Jerome Bonaparte said as he looked out at the twilight sky, "It’s getting late, we should go for dinner!"

"Indeed!"

...

Over the next two days, Jerome Bonaparte continued his routine, commuting back and forth between work. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

By the afternoon of the second day, Bashirio reported to Jerome Bonaparte about the British envoy’s arrival in Paris.

Jerome Bonaparte hurriedly ordered Bashirio, "Quickly, invite the British envoy in!"

Bashirio turned and left, and a moment later, he reappeared before Jerome Bonaparte.

"Your Majesty, the envoy has arrived!" Bashirio said respectfully to Jerome Bonaparte.

Jerome Bonaparte lifted his head to look at the envoy, then showed a surprised expression, as if he’d seen a ghost.

"Your Majesty, we meet again!" The "envoy" replied with a smile, bowing towards Jerome Bonaparte.

"Indeed!" Jerome Bonaparte remarked, "We meet again! Ambassador Cowley... no, should I now call you Envoy Cowley!"

That’s right, standing before Jerome Bonaparte was none other than Ambassador Cowley, the French envoy to Britain.

"Your Majesty, I am still the British Ambassador to France; serving as the envoy for negotiations is merely a temporary role!"